Representatives of British telecom giant Vodafone on Friday met senior finance ministry officials, including finance secretary Arvind Mayaram, to test the waters for an amicable resolution to its R20,000-crore tax dispute. Led by Matthew Kirk, director, external affairs, Vodafone officials also discussed their future investment plans in India.

Sources said that the meeting was to understand the way the new NDA government views the tax case and gauge how it wants to proceed with it. “It was a courtesy call. We did not discuss specific issues. But we got the impression that they (Vodafone) are of the view nothing is cast in stone,” said a person aware about Vodafone’s discussions with the finance ministry officials.

Mayaram said Vodafone executives came to discuss their further investment possibilities in India. “They said they are very enthused by the way the new government has set policy priorities. Once Vodafone finalises their investment plans, they would share them with us,” Mayaram told FE.